For Mom, For Dad, For Charity — Marathon Finishers Have Varied Motivations

HARTFORD — Among the runners from around the world who participated in the 21st annual NU Hartford Marathon Saturday, Jaclyn Marino, 33, of Berlin, was a first-time finisher.

After having two children, Marino began exercising to lose her baby weight, "and then I got kind of addicted," she said, so she decided to try a marathon.

"My body hurts," Marino said after the race, but "I did a little better than I thought I would," finishing the 26.2 miles in just under four hours.

Marino said she was most looking forward to "a hot shower" after slogging through a cold and rain-drenched run.

Megan Eruzione of Boston and Katie Spalter of Southington came out to support their sister, Jody Campbell, 33, of Southington, another first-time finisher.

The sisters joined about 20 of Campbell's friends and family along the course and the group wore matching "Team Jody" hats and clanged small cowbells as the runners went by. They also brought a camper where they could gather after the race, and champagne to celebrate Campbell's finish.

Spalter said Campbell focused hard on training and getting the proper nutrition before the race, and "whenever she can she'll try to run."

John Riordan, of Simsbury, was at the race to support his wife, Lisa, who was running in her sixth marathon.

"It's special, though, because she lost her dad to pancreatic cancer" in September, Riordan said.

Riordan said his wife's father would always drive her to marathons and cheer her on, so his absence made Saturday's race difficult. Unbeknownst to his wife, Riordan brought along their three children, Aidan, 10, Maeve, 8, and Brenna, 5.

Despite the cold and rain, Aidan said waiting for his mom was worth it because "we want to surprise her."

Riordan said hadn't been able to train as much as usual while caring for her ailing father. She ran Saturday in his memory, and plans to run the Boston Marathon in the spring to raise money for pancreatic cancer research at Massachusetts General Hospital.

"She's given support to her dad for the last year and a half," Riordan said. "In some small way, we can at least be there to support her."

Abby Gosselin, 16, of West Hartford, was along the course waiting for her twin sister, Kate, who was running her first marathon with friend Olivia Bourquin.

When asked what advice she gave her twin before the race, Gosselin said she told Kate it doesn't matter how fast she runs, just, "get across the finish line."

Rather than be nervous about her first marathon, "I think she was more excited than anything," Gosselin said.

Bill Widberg of Canton, Mass., stood near the finish line holding a balloon and gifts for his wife, Andrea, who was running her 40th marathon on her 40th birthday.

"She's absolutely amazing," Widberg said. "I'm super proud of her."

In addition to the marathon, Saturday's event included a half-marathon, a 5K, and a marathon relay.

Keirsten McDonald, 20, and Kristen Carpenter, 19, of Shelton, ran the 5K to support the Donate for Life organ donation foundation in memory of Jim Goodman, an insurance agent in Shelton who died this year.

McDonald said she had worked for Goodman, who was, "pretty inspiring," so she wanted to contribute "whatever I can give back to the cause."

It was the friends' first road race and "I thought it was great," McDonald said. "It was a little easier than I expected."

Rev. Jim Wheeler of St. John's Episcopal Church in Stamford ran the marathon relay with four others ages 15 to 61 for "Run 4 Haiti," a charitable group that helps support a clinic and school in the impoverished nation. Two other members of the relay team, Evan Jones and Chris Schlegel, both 18, said it's their fourth year racing, and they traveled to Haiti in 2012 on a mission trip for the organization.

Wheeler said that he ran the marathon solo once, but that the relay team has been a good way to support their cause without putting too much strain on individual participants.